Live Arts

OPERA BYTES

St Mary’s Church, Banbury

Thursday, 1pm

Tickets: 01295 253329 or on the door Well-known favourites and little-known gems from the operatic repertoire, with a bit of Scott Joplin thrown in for good measure. With Banbury soprano Helen Swift, Oxfordshire countertenor Adrian Boorman and award-winning pianist Jonathan French. There will be a chance to meet the artists after the performance.

Corona Strings

BEST OF BRITAIN

St John the Evangelist, Iffley Road, Oxford

Saturday, 7.30pm

Tickets: 01865 244806 or musicatoxford.com

Oxfordshire’s newest professional ensemble showcases works by three of Britain’s best-loved composers, including Britten’s Simple Symphony and song cycle Les Illuminations, Tippett’s Concerto for Double Strings and Orchestra and Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis. With soprano soloist Erica Eloff, guest leader Jeremy Samson and conductor Janet Lincé.

English Music Festival

MUSIC BY DAVID OWEN NORRIS

O’Reilly Theatre, Keble College, Oxford

Saturday, 5.45pm

Tickets: englishmusicfestival.org.uk

David Owen Norris returns to his alma mater for this official EMF launch concert, featuring his two song cycles Think Only This (settings of poems by John Donne) and Tomorrow Nor Yesterday (settings of First World War poets), as well as his radio opera The Jolly Roger.

With Amanda Pitt (soprano), Mark Wilde (tenor), Thomas Guthrie (baritone), Joseph Spooner (cello) and Norris himself on the piano. An unmissable prelude to the main festival coming up in Dorchester in May.

Abbey Chamber Concerts

BOUDOIR BAND

St Nicolas Church, Abingdon

Sunday, 3pm n Tickets: 07775 904 626 or on the door

Spend a relaxing Sunday afternoon with this selection of baroque masterpieces by Vivaldi, Corelli, Albinoni, Bach and Sammartini.

With Paul Chapman (flute), Isabel Knowland (violin), Jacqueline Johnson (cello) and Arne Richards (harpsichord).

Oxford Philomusica/ Papadopoulos

MUSIC BY BRITTEN AND DVORAK

Sheldonian Theatre n Wednesday, 8pm

Tickets: 01865 980980 or oxfordphil.com

Maxim Vengerov demonstrates his extraordinary virtuosity in this double bill of Britten’s Violin Concerto in D Minor and Dvorak’s romantic Violin Concerto in A Minor.

Don’t miss Vengerov’s masterclass at the Sheldonian the next day from 11am-noon, when he will be coaching two violin students.